Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-05-07

audience that first saw his Ko-Ko who re-
called his face as familiar one. Yet he had
played here as long ago as 1880 in Scott-Sid-
dons' support. With that famous woman he
made tour of the country, doing straight
comedy roles with fair success, but making
no special hit, probably because he hadn't
much of an opportunity. His Ko-Ko reap
pearance, and its accompanying hit, gave
him a decidedly better opinion of America,
| as you may imagine.
Thorne is a mite of man; probably he
isn't more than five feet in height. He's
great deal older than he looks and he isn't
old at that. Off the stage he is as companion
able an actor and as thorough gentleman
as England has ever sent hither. He hap
| PLY lacks the prejudices of most of our i'm
| ported professionals" always has q sim
cerely admiring word to say of our players
and om playhouses, and never talks about
his associates. 1t is not surprising, you see,
that he is popular. Some day, they tell me
| who know him best, he is going to star here
| in line of farclcal and musical comedies. 1t
| will be safe to wager that he'll succeed,
| for he is plucky, shrewd, conservative and
| talented. He comes of an excellent old stock
of players and was born in the very shadow
OF theatre, and toddled on to the stage a
child. His sister, Kate, is one of England's
best known actresses and manageresses, and
his brother, Frederic, has also trod the
boards, hav' lg visited America for brief
time about wenty years ago.
Outside :, Thorne, the "Evangeline'' re-
vival showed us new Evangeline in plump
| and sprightly Vernona Jarbeau. The duties
of her young motherhood rest lightly on this
| pretty girl whose voice is in good condition
and whose movements are entirely unembar-
rased. She's better Evangeline by far than
Louise Montague, the prize-beauty was, and
il some of hel ways she reminds me OF
Laura joyce, wLc sang the past ten years or
more ago, when Rice was humber but not
more sanguine. Indeed, it seems to me that
more varied memories of the light-opera
stage are grouped about "Evangeline" than
any othel piece of its kind 1 know of. Nat
Goodwin was once glad enough to play Capt.
Dietrich in it for salary, and George S.
Knight, who followed him in the role, scored
hit by making up to resemble Ben Butler.
Dan Mason, who is playing the part now,
variety houses, and he tells me he is going
to star next season; so judge Capt. Dietrich
somehow brings good fortune to his imper-
| senators. James S. Maffitt is yet the Lone
Fisherman. "Evangeline" has known only
one other in its life of dozen years or more.
That other was Harry Hunter, now dead
and gone but big favorite in his day, and
a capable all-round comedian. OF Gabriels
there have been many, but none more
sweetly picturesque than Venie Clancy, a
delicate and pretty little girl, whom con-
sumption carried away all too soon; there
was roguish Gabriel in Lizzie Webster, a
hrnnnfta WI nD 10 txraS 10 nrnrS nd
whom Jacob Nunnemacher, the Milwaukee
manager now esteems as his wife. There
was sparkling Gabriel in Fay Templeton,
| of everywhere, and there was q melodious
| Gabriel in little Irene Verona, an English
woman, and the wife of Fred Darrell, the
| actor. Verona and Darrell have gone back
| to England within the week.
We have had two dramatic novelties this
week. Annie Pixley played 1.-THE Deacon's
| Daughter for us, and Mrs. Langtry, re-
| turned from thecrcuits, acted Lady Clancarty
| in Tom Taylor's drama of that name Mrs.
Langtry was fashionably and faverably re
| ceived, and Miss Pixley met hosts of old
| friends i'll an engagement as important as any
| she has ever filled here.
The regular season of the stock companies
at Harrigan's, Days and Madison-square
| closes April 80, and all three companies take
| to the roads. AT Harrigan's Herr Conrad's
opera troupe go in tossing THE Gypsy Baron"
for a season. | am afraid they will not stay
long. The opera has been heard here great
| deal of late, and besides, it had long
| run at the Casino year or more ago
| The Park is hardly suited to light opera
presentations and Conrad, / dare say
| will find out as much before he has been
| there many nights. At the Madison-square
those of Manager Palmer's forces not engaged
| in the tour of "Jim, the Penman'' will, with
| special engagements, play "Our Society" for
month, after which Richard Mansfield will
lease the house. Days Theatre will be
| closed all summer. Something like 81 800
| per week in advance was Days figure for its
rental. He didn't find any tenants, and
don't wonder at it.
Miss Lille Grubb who is the wife of David
| IIayman, musician and the brother of AL.
| Hayman, the Frisco manager, has Just
| signed to sing at the Casino next year. It's
a fact, I'm solemnly assured by one who
has seen her contract with Rudolph Aronson,
| of the Casino, that she will draw $3.50 week
for her services. That's $50 more than Ned
Rice Offered her when he wanted her to go
out with his company. It's at least 500
| above the figures the Bijou managers are
paying her. On the whole, comic opera sing
| ing is very profitable. Pauline Hall, at the
Casino, gets $500 week, and she is worth it
AS draw" though hardly so ON general
artistic principles.
But Francis Wilson, who plays Caddy in
'Erminie," is, from any point of view, well
worth his salary, which is probably trihe
more than you or make. He gets $500
week. / doubt iflarger wages have ever been
20